Proper Skin Care for Hyperpigmentation

All throughout our lives, our bodies are constantly changing. When we’re young we’re growing quickly. Sometimes we experience what is known as “growing pains” as our bones stretch out and bring the rest of our body along for the ride.

When we become teenagers, our skin can become oily and our sweat starts to carry an odor. So we start washing our faces more often and applying deodorant.

When we get older, our bodies really start to change. It becomes less pliable. It loses some of its luster. It can even begin the process of hyperpigmentation.

But what is hyperpigmentation and how does it affect us?

That’s a great question! Hyperpigmentation is a naturally occurring process and can occur in anyone with any skin color or type.

It is the result of an overproduction of melanin, the chemical in our skin that gives it color.

It can be from a number of factors. The most common is sun damage, more specifically from the UV, or ultraviolet, rays. 

If you’ve ever gotten a sunburn, you’ve seen your melanin’s natural defense mechanism in action. You may have noticed that a few hours or even a few days after the redness fades, it is replaced with  browner skin color.

That is your melanin, trying to protect you from the damage of the sun. Even a mild tan, then, is a case of sun damage. If you want to avoid hyperpigmentation in the first place, you might want to apply sunblock regularly and limit exposure to the sun when you can.

But not all hyperpigmentation can be avoided. Sometimes it results from a change in hormone levels. Women who are pregnant, for example, frequently see hyperpigmentation as their body reacts to their changing body chemistry.

Hyperpigmentation can also be a result of damage. Think of it kind of like an immune response. Your skin’s melanin cells ramp up in order to help repair the damage. This is why you may see your skin color change around sites of damage, such as scars. 

No matter what the source of your hyperpigmentation, there are many ways that you can treat this issue. 

Topical Cream

Your first option when it comes to treating your hyperpigmentation is to use topical creams. These are creams that can be bought over the counter and applied directly to your skin to help change its chemistry.

These creams are working to try to stop the overproduction of melanin. Each cream has a slightly different way of doing this.

There are a great many of these products on the market, many of which promise to combat aging or reduce the appearance of dark spots. But what should you be looking for when you go to the store?

Vitamin C is a great ingredient for your skin. It contains antioxidants that help de-age your body. How do they do it?

It’s simple! Antioxidants are chemicals released in the body that bond to free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that have been knocked off-balance and become negatively charged. As they travel through the body, free radicals look to bond to another molecule in order to neutralize their negative charge.

When they bind to a cell that makes up, for example, our skin, then it degrades the health of that cell. Antioxidants can bond to these free radicals instead, helping to flush them from the body without committing any harm. Click here for more information about free radicals and antioxidants.

Committing to applying a topical cream on a daily basis, it can help to slow, stop, and even reverse the signs of aging. You’ll want to establish a daily routine in order to see the best benefits.

LED Masks

Although they look like something from the future, LED masks are here today!

If you’ve ever seen the hit film from twenty-twenty The High Note then you’ve seen an LED mask. In the film, a character named Grace Davis who is an international pop star is seen preparing for a date by holding a white mask over her face. The mask emitted a gentle blue light.

In other circumstances, the light from the mask can be red instead of blue. Both have therapeutic qualities.

The light can help repair damaged and hyper-pigmented cells, but only if used regularly. Click the link: https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/red-light-therapy for more information about this treatment. 

Visit Your Dermatologist

If you’ve tried over-the-counter remedies and are still not seeing the results you want, then it may be time to check in with your dermatologist.

There are a number of services they can offer beyond what is available to you as a consumer. This can include peels, injections, and topical creams.

If you’ve noticed your skin changing color and you want to combat it, there are many tools available to you.